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EventAn estimated 8% of injuries to healthcare workers in the hospital setting and 17% of worker injuries in the surgical setting are associated with scalpels. Scalpel-related injuries occur most commonly when blades are being attached to or removed from the scalpel handle. In addition to posing infection concerns, such incidents carry a high risk of causing structural damage to the hand, requiring extensive intervention and rehabilitation. Although the Occupational Safety and Health Administration mandates that employers "identify, evaluate, and implement" safer medical devices for healthcare workers, data indicates that such alternative devices are rarely used. In December, ECRI published evaluation findings for 11 scalpel blade removers—devices designed to facilitate safe blade removal and exchange in a variety of settings. Join experts from ECRI's Device Evaluation team as they discuss how this technology impacts patient safety and how to determine the best product for your needs. During this lab webcast, the following learning objectives will be discussed: The prevalence of scalpel-related injuries in healthcare Products available and ECRI's testing methodology Keys to successful implementation of the technology Register for the webcast
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Content ArticleThis annual report from ECRI and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) presents the top 10 patient safety concerns currently confronting the healthcare industry. It is a guide for a systems approach to adopting proactive strategies and solutions to mitigate risks, improve healthcare outcomes and enhance the well-being of patients and the healthcare workforce. Drawing on ECRI and ISMP’s evidence-based research, data and insights, this report sheds light on issues that leaders should evaluate within their own institutions as potential opportunities to reduce preventable harm. Some of the concerns represent emerging risks, some are well known but still unresolved, but all of them pertain to areas where organisations can make meaningful change.
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Content ArticleSome studies suggest a higher incidence of diagnosis of autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) among patients with a history of Covid-19 compared with uninfected patients. This binational cohort study of patients in Korea and Japan aimed to investigate the effect of Covid-19 on long-term risk for incident AIRD over various follow-up periods. The authors found that Covid-19 infection was associated with increased risk for incident AIRD compared with matched patients without Covid-19 infection or with influenza infection. The risk for incident AIRD was higher with greater severity of acute Covid-19.
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Content ArticleWith the launch of Pharmacy First in England, pharmacists have a leading role within primary care across the UK in the treatment of many common minor ailments. These resources on have been compiled by the Pharmaceutical Journal and are mapped to cover the conditions specified by the Welsh common minor ailments service, NHS Pharmacy First Scotland and the Pharmacy First service for England. There are resources relating to the following areas: Respiratory Eye, ear and oral health Gastrointestinal Infections and parasites Dermatology CNS and pain management
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Content ArticleCentral venous catheters (CVCs) are widely used in US critical care settings for medication administration, monitoring and reliable venous access. Despite the benefits of CVCs, complications, particularly infections, have become a major focus of US hospital quality improvement efforts due to federal and state initiatives that emphasise patient safety, transparency and accountability. In this commentary in JAMA Network, the authors look at recent research surrounding CVC complications and highlight approaches to help tackle these issues.
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Content ArticleThis article in the Pharmaceutical Journal outlines best practice principles and practical advice for structuring antimicrobial reviews and effective stewardship practices. It aims to equip pharmacists to: Understand the role of essential antimicrobial stewardship tools and frameworks to improve antibiotic prescribing; Structure an antimicrobial review effectively, covering all relevant details; Personalise the antimicrobial review to ensure patient-centred care and effective antimicrobial stewardship practices; Develop skills for effective antimicrobial review and stewardship practices to mitigate antimicrobial resistance threat.
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Content ArticleThis study aimed to determine whether the use of video telemedicine for paediatric consultations to referring hospital emergency departments (EDs) results in less frequent medication errors than the current standard of care—telephone consultations. The authors found no statistically significant differences in physician-related medication errors between children assigned to receive telephone consultations vs video telemedicine consultations.
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Content ArticleThis article looks at US study showing that the simple act of a doctor sitting in a chair during hospital bedside discussions improves the experience for both doctors and patients. The research team examined whether educating internal medicine residents on the value of sitting and adding a wall-mounted folding chair in plain sight to hospital rooms would motivate doctors to use chairs. The study also measured the impact of whether this physician behaviour impacted patient perceptions. The results showed that: Education alone improved sitting frequency to 15%, but adding dedicated chairs for the clinicians in addition to any patient or visitor chairs improved sitting to 45%. In units where residents were given only education on the value of sitting, patients reported 49% of the time residents always spent enough time by the bedside with them, compared to 73% when a chair was available. In units with education only, 67% of the time residents always checked to ensure the patient understood everything, compared to 87% when a chair was present.
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EventuntilThe Duty of Candour, introduced in 2014, requires healthcare professionals to be honest with patients when things go wrong. They must also be open with colleagues, employers, and relevant organisations and participate in reviews and investigations when requested. Our training developed with industry experts - Peter Walsh, the ex-Chief Executive of AvMA, who is well known for his pioneering work on the Duty of Candour, and Carolyn Cleveland, who specialises in training professionals in dealing with difficult emotions and conversations and doing so with empathy, understanding perspectives. The training focuses on empathy and compassion and equips you to navigate the Duty of Candour effectively. The training will cover the following areas: Overview of the Duty of Candour Legislation Requirements and expectations of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) The importance of empathy and compassion in implementing the Duty of Candour Balancing compliance with the human side of the duty Empowering and supporting individuals responsible for the Duty of Candour Understanding the emotional component behind the duty Providing evidence of compliance with the legislation Impact of meaningful interactions on patients, families, and colleagues Avoiding harm when providing an apology Price: £245 + VAT per person Discounted rate for bookings of 3 or more: £220 + VAT per person Event details and booking page Discount Code – Early bird 10% discount code valid until 2 April Hub discount code: DoC-Hub-10 Alternatively, the training can be delivered in-house at your organisation, either in person or online. Please enquire for details by emailing paulas@avma.org.uk
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Content ArticleThis study compared the blood of patients with confirmed Covid-19 infection with that of uninfected controls. The authors found that there were changes to serum proteins in the blood of patients experiencing Long Covid. This indicates activation of the immune system’s complement cascade, altered coagulation and tissue injury. At the cellular level, Long Covid was linked to aggregates comprising monocytes and platelets. These findings provide knowledge of potential biomarkers for diagnosis and may inform directions for treatments.
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Content ArticleSepsis is an emergency medical condition where the immune system overreacts to an infection. It affects people of all ages and, without urgent treatment, can lead to organ failure and death. This leaflet by the Sepsis Trust outlines the symptoms of sepsis in children and aims to help parents and carers identify when to seek medical help.
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Content ArticleThis cohort study examined whether sociodemographic characteristics affected patient access to and use of patient health care portals during the Covid-19 pandemic. The authors found significant disparities in portal use by sex, age, multimorbidity and health literacy were found. While disparities by sex and age decreased and were no longer statistically significant by 2021, disparities by multimorbidity remained consistent throughout the pandemic and disparities by health literacy were exacerbated.
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Content ArticleThis study in BMJ Open aimed to describe the experiences and opinions of GPs in England about patients having access to their full online GP health records. 400 registered GPs in England completed an online survey. The results revealed some key findings: 91% GPs believed a majority of patients would worry more. 85% said they though patients would find their GP records more confusing than helpful. 60% believed a majority of patients would find significant errors in their records. 70% believed patients would better remember their care plan. 60% said patients would feel more in control of their care. 89% believed they will/already spend more time addressing patients’ questions outside of consultations. 81% said that consultations will/already take significantly longer. 72% said they will be/already are less candid in their documentation after online records access. 62% believed patients having access to their records would increase their litigation.
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Content Article
Antibiotic underdosing is a widespread issue in the healthcare system. The use of modern infusion pumps to deliver intravenous (IV) medications has resulted in the practice of flushing IV lines being lost in some specialties. Failure to give full doses of IV antibiotics poses significant risks to individual patients as well as adding to the problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In this interview, Ruth Dando, Head of Nursing, Theatres, Critical Care and Anaesthetics at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals Trust (BHRUHT) explains why antibiotic underdosing is a risk to patient safety and describes how she has implemented a change in practice to tackle the issue across BHRUHT. A transcript is available below the video. -
Content Article
Ashleigh Hughes is a Senior Sister at an NHS chemotherapy day unit. In this interview she shares her personal story about the impact of antibiotic underdosing on her Mum’s end of life care. Antibiotic underdosing is a medication safety issue that has profound implications for the health service as well as individual patients, but there is currently a lack of understanding and recognition of the issue.- Posted
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Content Article
Long Covid and return to work – What works? (August 2022)
Patient-Safety-Learning posted an article in Guidance
This paper provides a summary of a webinar entitled “Long Covid and return to work support - what works?” held in March 2022. The webinar was organised because of the multiple different approaches being taken to the management of Long Covid across the UK and elsewhere. The paper aims to provide guidance to occupational health providers, employers, workers, people with Long Covid, HR personnel, managers, healthcare professionals and unions about the identification and management of Long Covid, particularly relating to return to work. It argues that a multi-disciplinary approach is essential to help retain and support people affected by Long Covid to return to work. It includes information on: Universal first-line screening assessment in Long Covid Red flags and specialist referral Treatment which can help function and recovery Rehabilitation Specific Fitness for Work considerations after Covid-19 infection Examples of workplace adjustments for Long Covid Prevention of infection: risk management in the workplace Workplace public health messages -
Content ArticleThis consensus statement co-ordinated by the British In Vitro Diagnostics Association (BIVDA) outlines the role of point of care testing in reducing the amount of antibiotics prescribed in primary care. It highlights the issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and outlines evidence for the effectiveness of the rapid point-of-care C-Reactive Protein (POC CRP) test to assist clinical decision making as to whether an individual presenting with symptoms of respiratory tract infection needs an antibiotic. It makes a series of recommendations for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England around the use of POC CRP testing in primary care.
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Content ArticleThe Patients Association has been working with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to understand the impact the English language proficiency of health and care professionals has on patient and carer experiences. The HPCP is proposing changes to its English language proficiency requirements for applicants and this blog outlines key issues that were raised in an online focus group with patients, including: The impact of English language proficiency on patient experience Creating a fair system Partnering with patients and carers
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Content ArticleThe authors of this JAMA article describe the experience of a family member who was in critical care, and who is deaf. They outline a lack of awareness amongst healthcare professionals about their relative's deafness and highlight the lack of understanding in how to communicate with her. They go on to outline a number of approaches to communicating with patients who are deaf or hard of hearing.
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Content ArticleThis report describes the findings of a study that collected stories of the working lives of Black and Brown healthcare staff during the Covid-19 pandemic. The study asked them to reflect on their experiences and highlight the changes they would like to see. It highlights a number of issues around victimisation, access to PPE, speaking up and risk assessments. The authors argue that the report confirms previous studies that identify the entrenched nature of racism in healthcare systems and highlights how systemic cultures of racism contributed to the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on health and care workers from minority ethnic backgrounds.
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Content ArticleThis US study looked at how critical care doctors approach shared decision-making with Black compared with White caregivers of critically ill patients. The authors found that racial disparities exist in critical care clinicians' approaches to shared decision-making and suggest potential areas for future interventions aimed at promoting equity.
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Content ArticleThe epidemic of workplace violence has prompted the use of harsh responses that include “behaviour contracts” (sometimes called “behavioural agreements”) by US healthcare organisations. The authors of this JAMA article look at how this approach can undermine a hospital’s commitment to providing evidence-based, patient-centred care and highlight other approaches to dealing with patient aggression and violence in healthcare settings.
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Content ArticleThis systematic review of qualitative evidence aimed to improve understanding of the processes and outcomes of redress and reconciliation following a life-changing event, from the perspectives of individuals experiencing the event and their families. The authors searched six bibliographic databases for primary qualitative evidence exploring the views of individuals who have experienced a life-changing event, and/or their family or carers, of redress or reconciliation processes. This was supplemented with targeted database searches, forward and backward citation chasing and searches of Google Scholar and relevant websites. The review identified three themes identified by patients and families that represent procedural elements required to support a fair and objective process: transparency, person-centred and trustworthy. A further theme identified—restorative justice—is about how a fair process feels to those who have experienced a life-changing event. It highlights the importance of an empathic relationship between the different parties involved in the process and the significance of being able to engage in meaningful action. Theses findings provide insights on how to conduct a fair review into instances of medical harm.
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Content ArticleThis US study in the journal Pediatrics analysed a national sample of paediatric hospitalisations to identify disparities in safety events. The authors used data from the 2019 Kids’ Inpatient Database and looked at the independent variables of race, ethnicity and the organisation paying for care (for example, private insurance company or Medicaid). The results showed disparities in safety events for Black and Hispanic children, indicating a need for targeted interventions to improve patient safety in hospitals.
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Content ArticleThis cohort study in the Lancet aimed to evaluate the overall effect of vaccination to prevent Long Covid symptoms and assess comparative effectiveness of the most used vaccines (ChAdOx1 and BNT162b2). The results showed that vaccination against Covid-19 consistently reduced the risk of Long Covid symptoms, which highlights the importance of vaccination to prevent persistent Covid-19 symptoms, particularly in adults.
